Trump ordered DOJ not to appeal ruling that loosened limits on "gangster weapons," sources say

Key Points:

• President Trump has directed the Justice Department not to appeal a court ruling that invalidated most restrictions on certain firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act, allowing easier possession and sale of short-barreled rifles, shotguns, and silencers.
• The ruling, issued by Judge James Wesley Hendrix, found the restrictions unconstitutional after Congress removed a $200 tax on these firearms, undermining the statute's legal basis under the taxing power.
• This decision has sparked concern within the Justice Department and among gun control advocates, as it hampers federal firearms prosecutions and could increase public safety risks by loosening oversight on weapons historically linked to criminal use.
• The ruling applies to members of gun rights groups involved in the lawsuit and has already led to dropped charges in at least one federal case, highlighting its immediate impact on law enforcement efforts.
• While the ruling does not affect popular firearms like AR-15s or machine guns, its enforcement could be challenged by other parties or reversed by Congress if political control shifts, but it currently marks a significant rollback of a 90-year-old federal gun regulation.